May 31, 2009 Wordlisteners

We had eight tonight and covered Chapters 7-9 of Jeremiah. The
discussion was lively and God spoke to each of us through His word.

There is NO Wordlisteners next week - 1st Sundays are praise and worship
services and we have a bluegrass band coming. Please join us at 7pm.

Our next Wordlisteners will be June 14 at 7pm, and we will be on
Jeremiah Chapters 10-13 most likely.

Notes from tonight:

Jeremiah Chapter 7
God is not fooled, He sees what we do, he knows are true motives (not what we might try and convince ourselves of), and He is aware of our effort. He will act, He has in the past- we only need to consider Israel. In Jeremiah's time Israel was the example of what would happen. Judah didn't believe it so now we have both of them as examples for us.

We fail to listen, and yet He speaks to us through His word. His word is the best documented now as it ever has been in History, and yet understanding of His principles may be at an all time low for most people.

He calls us to truly acknowledge our ways - that they are not His, and to adjust our thinking.

The situation was so bad, he told Jeremiah not to pray (intercede) for that people. He is not going to listen, His decision is set in motion. I don't know how He measures it, but he has had enough. The situation was so bad that there was cultural denial of God (much like today). Fathers, mothers, and children all working in ways detrimental to themselves. He doesn't say they were hurting God but rather they are hurting themselves. Our actions have no bearing on God but rather only on us. We might make Him sad that we (His creation reject Him) but we can't hurt Him, we can only hurt ourselves. In addition to only hurting ourselves, we look ridiculous and are shameful when choose not to follow His ways.

Enough there now God points something else out. Our giving, we convince ourselves that if we give to God we're OK- whether we obey Him or not. We think we buy, if you will, passes for transgressions. We put something on the "good" side of the scale. All God wants from us is obedience. We try and give Him things that compared to obedience are easier for us. We try and buy our way out of commitment. Even doing this -which is continued disobedience- God reaches out to us. He has sent prophets, He sent Jeremiah. He tells Jeremiah to warn the people but at the same time not expect anyone to listen. Are we faithful and obedient to God even when we realize no actual results (seemingly)?

We expect that if we are obedient to God, then He is required to act, and things will happen the way we see the result. This is not the case. We want our obedience to be rewarded now (in this life). Why? Because it looks good before men. It raises us up, makes us stick out, and is often one of the motivating factors behind obedience (or the appearance of obedience). We can serve God for years, perhaps our entire life and never see a reward. With this possibility in mind what is your obedience level?

Our selfishness, our turning away from God, our insistence on our own ways, even though He is reaching out, will eventually bring about His anger. Not that our actions ever control God, but more like He gets tired of watching us hurt ourselves (or multitudes of others) and decides to act. One of the disobediences in Jeremiah's time was the sacrificing of children -burning of babies. God watched and wooed and warned, and finally acted to stop it. The parallels between that and our modern sophisticated abortion are quite obvious. They sacrificed their children to gods they thought would make their life better or cause them a more enriching life, how many abortions are performed because a child "now" would "ruin" the parents life. Children then and children today truly suffered for their parent's whims and pleasures.

Chapter 8
When God has enough, and acts, then social standing will offer no protection. The rich and the poor will all suffer the same fate, and be powerless to stop it. The gods in Jeremiah's day and the gods in our day are powerless to stop God's will. When he does act, those that survive will wish they had not.

People are prideful and stubborn. Once set on a course of action how many people will admit they personally are wrong. Don't believe we are stubborn -how many times has the same thing been tried with different results expected? Why do we do this? We have talked ourselves into believing our illusions, or blaming the undesired result on someone or something else. We need to align our actions with God's Word. Only then are we guaranteed success by any real standard. Our logic and feelings often lead us to courses of action not in alignment with God's word, and our pride and stubbornness blinds us to this fact.

God listens for repentant hearts, those that realize their way is flawed and seek a better way. He wants us to realize the truth that we don't have all the answers. He wants us to confess it to Him. He does have all the answers by the way. Prior to the Babylon invasion of Judah, God searched and found no repentant hearts, no person with regrets, no person apologizing to Him for going their own way. The people of Judah were in the midst of constant destructive behavior heading backwards (away from God) to madness.

Animals are to be an example for us. They see how God made things and follow that rather than re-order (or vainly try to) what God has done. We on the other hand can get so caught up in self that we forget God and His ways, and what we do know about God.

We are so sophisticated, in our own mind. We get to the point we feel we have figured God out. We claim all the promises He offers in His word, but we ignore the fact that the promises usually come about from obedience to Him. Judah felt it was a nation chosen by God and He would protect them from the Babylonians like He did from the Assyrians. Their leaders told them they would be safe, they were experts, but they didn't know God's word. Many people do not. Often people have opinions on all sorts of issues, but couldn't tell you God's. He asks if that is knowing?

The know it alls will suffer the loss of family and homes. Money is the focus, and truth is twisted and or partially ignored. God is misrepresented, and the country will be in shambles, but their stubbornness and pride will keep them from seeing the truth of their condition and its cause. Bad times come about due to the fallen condition of man, and an ignorance of and turning from God. There is a bottom to which we as people can sink, and God knows that point. The point where we are beyond turning back as a people.

After that point God will confirm it. He will see what is salvageable, if anything. Now the next scripture really jumps out, at this point God will take back what He has given. Pause- think about it. God gave us everything we have that is good, so if He now takes it away, what is left?

Now what? and this will be repeated in the battle of Armageddon, there will be those that realize it is from God, so what will they decide to do? They decide to accept their state and fight- against God's will. That is the ultimate in stubbornness and pride. God's judgment is poured out and they want it their way a different way. In Judah's time as the Babylonian army poured in from the North the people knew they were doomed. They did not even think of repentance and asking for mercy- even then. Their fate is sealed.

Jeremiah has a heart for his people and cries for them, they still cling to their gods, they still hope for rescue without repentance. He sees so clearly what they refuse to, and that is their need for God. He sees their ignorance of the things of God. To watch anyone make a mistake, make a decision that you know is disastrous, to turn away wise counsel in favor of their fixed decision is probably the hardest thing we ever see as a person. None of us are immune either, we all probably wear blinders when it comes to certain courses of action. We are convinced we did the right thing, just as those we watch are convinced they made the right decision. Jeremiah's anguish is understandable. It is only submitted fully to Christ in every facet of our lives and having learned (been taught by Him to hear His voice), that we have any hope of avoiding blinded bad decisions due to our natural tendencies of stubbornness and pride.

Chapter 9
Jeremiah weeps at the casualties of his people. It is so sad to watch someone take the wrong route in life. He longs for being in a remote place, a place where he doesn't have to watch. He is frustrated by their unbelief, to go with his sorrow at their choices.

Whats wrong with Jeremiah's people? They tell lies. Its interesting that this is the starting point. What comes out of our mouths, what we say. If evil comes out of our mouths then our actions will soon follow, and they will advance from one evil to another. Where do we need to go for truth? Trusted family members?- NO, friends? -NO, Neighbors? -NO. People (in general) have told lies for so long they no longer know the truth. They have started out believing a lie (contrary to God's Word, then modified it to grow into more lies as God put the evidence in their lives that they were wrong, and kept going until the truth is completely lacking in their lives. This leads to multitudes of wrongs, and more lies and a refusal to acknowledge God. So to speak truth one needs to be in fellowship with God, ther is no other place to go.

Once a people has denied God in all areas, then God can only melt them down, to show them what they are made of. In crisis a person's true character comes out. In good times a facade is maintained – pleasantries – lies spoken, intentions of deception, a belief that denies God, or denies He will act.

In Jeremiah's time God allowed invasion, loss of real estate -pastures (really its wealth). To dangerous, the wealth removed – to where? Taken by invaders. Towns reduced to rubble – destroyed by invading armies. What will happen in our time with all the budget cuts?

A question is asked- does anyone know why this is happening? Can they see the big picture? Probably a lot of finger pointing but not any bottom line answers. Bottom line- they abandoned God's teachings, refused to listen to Him, refused to live His way. Instead they reasoned out the way they wanted to live based on their selfish desires, and told lies (justified their choices) to the point they believed them.

So God will feed them pig slop, its interesting this shows up in the prodigal son story. Here a nation abandons God, there its a person. He'll send poison, scatter them and death will follow.

We're so good, we don't abandon God's plain teaching. We forgive those who have wronged us, and don't keep a record of it. We faithfully tithe, we don't gossip, we are completely open and honest. After a little thought each and every one of us is reminded of our short comings before God. Repent and learn.

They realized what was happening so they mourned their loss. They were ashamed about their loss of land, homes, children. No lament that they turned away from God anywhere in that chapter, only the loss of possessions. It was all about appearances and not genuine sorrow at the turning away from the Creator of all things.

God's message to them- don't brag about how good they are, or what they can do. Only brag about knowing and understanding God. God who sets things right and fair, ever heard "life's not fair", well God wants it to be. He sets things right and wants us to also. He will personally deal with those so externally focused on the world and what they have or don't have rather than being focused on their relationship with God.

In the last verse there is a reference to performance religion, and appearance of Godliness- an appearance of doing the right things. God will deal with those nations and people personally. Have you realized an error, a misconception of what God wants? Surrender it to Him, confess it, turn from it and let Him show you His way. A better way.